'I Am Legend' Novelist Richard Matheson Dead

Richard Matheson, the author of sci-fi classics including "I Am Legend" and "The Shrinking Man," died in his Calabasas, Calif. home on Sunday. He was 87. His daughter, screenwriter Ali Matheson, shared the news on Facebook. "My beloved father passed away yesterday at home surrounded by the people and things he loved...he was funny, brilliant, loving, generous, kind, creative, and the most wonderful father ever," Matheson wrote. "I miss you and love you forever Pop and I know you are now happy and healthy in a beautiful place full of love and joy you always knew was there." While Matheson is primarily known for his many novels and short stories that have been adapted for film and television, he also had a prominent screenwriting career. He wrote 17 episodes of "The Twilight Zone," including one based on his own short story, "Steel," which was the inspiration for the 2011 Hugh Jackman movie, "Real Steel." Similarly, he adapted his short story "Button, Button" for a 1986 episode of the sci-fi series. "The Box," a 2009 Richard Kelly film, was based on the same story. Other TV writing credits include "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," "Lawman," "Night Stalker" and "Duel," a 1971 made-for-TV movie directed by Steven Spielberg. Films "Stir of Echoes," "What Dreams May Come," "The Incredible Shrinking Man," "The Legend of Hell House" and "Somewhere in Time" are all based on his novels. "I Am Legend," a 1954 novel about the last man on Earth after a vampire pandemic wipes out mankind, inspired the 2007 Will Smith film of the same name, as well as 1964's "The Last Man on Earth" and 1971's "The Omega Man," starring Charlton Heston. Matheson had four children with his wife, Ruth. Three of his children, Chris, Richard Christian and Ali, are also writers with a lengthy list of TV and film credits to their names.
 Their love is written in the stars! "Star Wars" creator George Lucas married businesswoman Mellody Hobson on Saturday. Lucas, 69, and Hobson, 44, announced their engagement in January 2013. Lucas and Hobson met at a business conference in 2006. Hobson, a Princeton University graduate who is also the head of a Chicago-based investment management firm, joked about their unlikely pairing during a January 2012 appearance on OWN's "Oprah's Next Chapter." "How else would a financial person and a movie person ever be at the same place at the same time?" she said with a laugh. This is the first marriage for Hobson and the second for Lucas, who was previously wed to film editor Marcia Griffin from 1969 to 1983. The exes adopted a daughter, Amanda, and Lucas adopted two more children, Katie and Jett, after their split. In addition to serving as chairman of the board of DreamWorks Animation, Hobson is also a money and personal finance contributor to ABC News. Lucas -- who also created the "Indiana Jones" franchise -- sold his television and film production company, Lucasfilm Ltd., to the Walt Disney Company for $4.05 billion in October 2012.

'Kick-Ass' creator speaks out after Jim Carrey snubs film

The creator of the "Kick-Ass" movie franchise has hit back at Jim Carrey after the actor publicly withdrew his support for the film over its depiction of violence. The "Dumb & Dumber star" announced on Sunday he had experienced a change of heart about the upcoming release of "Kick-Ass 2," following the gun massacre at Connecticut's Sandy Hook Elementary School last December. He tweeted, "I did Kickass (sic) a month b4 (before) Sandy Hook and now in all good conscience I cannot support that level of violence. My apologies to others involve (sic) with the film. I am not ashamed of it but recent events have caused a change in my heart." Mark Millar, who wrote the "Kick-Ass" comic books and is a producer on the films, admits he is "baffled" by Carrey's statement as he insists the star knew all about the script's gory content when he signed up for the role. Millar also reveals Carrey was drawn to playing Colonel Stars and Stripes as the character is a vigilante who refuses to use a gun. "I'm baffled by this sudden announcement as nothing seen in this picture wasn't in the screenplay eighteen months ago. Yes, the body count is very high, but a movie called 'Kick-Ass 2' really has to do what it says on the tin," Millar wrote on his website. "Ironically, Jim's character in 'Kick-Ass 2' is a born-again Christian, and the big deal we made of the fact that he refuses to fire a gun is something he told us attracted him to the role in the first place. Ultimately, this is his decision, but I've never quite bought the notion that violence in fiction leads to violence in real life any more than Harry Potter casting a spell creates more Boy Wizards in real-life."

 Jodie Sweetin is on the verge of ending her third marriage. The former Full House star, 31, filed for legal separation from Morty Coyle, her husband of a little more than a year, according to court documents filed in Los Angeles. The actress cited irreconcilable differences. Sweetin is seeking custody of the pair's 2-year-old daughter Beatrix, as well as ownership of their 2000 Toyota Avalon. Sweetin, who was previously wed to Cody Herpin and Shaun Holguin, referred to then-fiancé Coyle as "wonderful and fantastic" in 2011. The actress and her ex – who got engaged on Sweetin's birthday in January 2011 – kept their marriage secret for a little more than a year saying, they decided to make it public on their first anniversary.

Holly Madison Is Engaged to Pasquale Rotella

Holly Madison is about to be the bride next door. Madison, 33, announced that her boyfriend Pasquale Rotella popped the question on her blog Monday. "I got engaged on Sunday!" the reality star wrote. "My fiancé was so wonderful in creating such a romantic night! He proposed to me at the top of the ferris wheel at EDC Las Vegas." She continued, "I was so happy that so many of our close friends were there to share the wonderful moment with us! We rode around the festival on the art cart until the sun came up! I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful or magical proposal!" The couple welcomed daughter Rainbow Aurora in March.

Paula Deen Loses Ham Endorsement Deal
Paula Deen's racial slur scandal is costing her an endorsement deal with Smithfield, the pork company that sold a ham with her name and face on it. "Smithfield condemns the use of offensive and discriminatory language and behavior of any kind," Smithfield says in a statement. "Therefore, we are terminating our partnership with Paula Deen. Smithfield is determined to be an ethical food industry leader and it is important that our values and those of our spokespeople are properly aligned." Deen's deal with Smithfield was announced in September 2006. This is the latest blow to Deen, who was dropped from the Food Network on Friday after 11 years as one of the channel's biggest stars. The business deals are falling under scrutiny following the uproar over her admitted use of the N-word in the past. "Smithfield was a key deal for her empire," Allen Salkin, author of the upcoming book From Scratch: Inside the Food Network, says. "In addition to paying her handsomely as an endorser, the ham company helped her charitable image by delivering truckloads of meat to food banks in her name." There is a lot more at stake than Deen's deal with Smithfield. Her deals with QVC, where she sells cookware, publisher Random House, Inc., which has a book by Deen coming out in October, diabetes drug makers Novo Nordisk and Sears Holdings have all said they're monitoring the situation.


TV NEWS
After being dropped by the Food Network amid controversy last Friday, Paula Deen is set once more to make an appearance on Today. Matt Lauer first announced the news during Monday’s show, insisting that Deen “told us she will be here” on Wednesday. Deen was previously scheduled to appear on NBC’s morning show on Friday. However, the Southern-fried chef abruptly canceled her appearance following the fallout from a recent deposition in which she admitted to using the N-word and expressed a desire to throw a southern-style wedding with black waiters acting as pre-Civil War-era “slaves.”


Downton Abbey is bracing for another American invasion. Paul Giamatti (Sideways, Cinderella Man) is joining the Masterpiece/PBS phenom’s Season 4 cast as Harold Levinson, the maverick, playboy brother of Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) and uncle to Mary (Michelle Dockery) and Edith (Laura Carmichael).


Discovery’s coverage of Nik Wallenda‘s high-wire walk across a Grand Canyon chasm averaged 8.5 million total viewers on Sunday evening, with 13 million laying witness to the daredevil’s actual 22-minute trek.


Desperate Housewives vets Max and Charlie Carver have joined HBO’s buzzy drama pilot The Leftovers. Based on the 2011 novel of the same name, the prospective series — from Damon Lindelof (Lost) and Tom Perrotta (Election) – examines life on Earth after a Rapture-like event occurs. The twins, who will play laid-back teen brothers, co-star alongside the previously cast Justin Theroux (The District) and Liv Tyler (Armageddon).


The Season 6 finale of Mad Men on AMC, meanwhile, drew 2.7 million viewers — the show’s most-watched closer to date. (The Season 5 climax drew 2.6 million viewers).


For a second year running, The CW is launching its fall TV season in October, opening with Hart of Dixie and its relocated Beauty and the Beast, then finishing things up at the end of the month with its fashionable Friday combo of Carrie Bradshaw and Tyra Banks. On tap for late fall/midseason: The final, shortened season of Nikita plus the new dramas Star-Crossed and The 100.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 78 pm Hart of Dixie
9 pm Beauty and the Beast
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 98 pm Arrow
9 pm THE TOMORROW PEOPLE (new series)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 108 pm The Vampire Diaries
9 pm REIGN (new series)
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 158 pm THE ORIGINALS (new series)
9 pm Supernatural
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 258 pm The Carrie Diaries
9 pm America’s Next Top Model: Guys and Girls

On NBC the fun officially begins Monday, Sept. 23 with the two-hour premiere of The Voice — which welcomes back Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green — at 8/7c. James Spader’s new crime drama The Blacklist follows The Voice‘s return at 10.
MONDAY, SEPT. 23
8 pm The Voice (two hours)
10 pm THE BLACKLIST (new series)
TUESDAY, SEPT. 24
8 pm TBD
9 pm The Voice (Tuesday premiere)
10 pm Chicago Fire
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 25
8 pm Revolution
9 pm Law & Order: SVU (two hours)
THURSDAY, SEPT. 26
8 pm Parks and Recreation (hour-long)
9 pm THE MICHAEL J. FOX SHOW (new series, double-episode premiere)
10 pm Parenthood
FRIDAY, SEPT. 27
9 pm Dateline (two-hour premiere)
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 2
10 pm IRONSIDE (new series)
THURSDAY, OCT. 3
8:30 pm WELCOME TO THE FAMILY (new series)
9 pm SEAN SAVES THE WORLD (new series)
9:30 pm The Michael J. Fox Show (regular time slot premiere)
TUESDAY, OCT. 8
8 pm The Biggest Loser
FRIDAY, OCT. 25
8 pm Dateline (regular time slot premiere)
9 pm Grimm
10 pm DRACULA (new series)